Community Development
Interinstitutional Graduate Program
Participating Institutions:
- Iowa State University
- Kansas State University
- University of Nebraska
- North Dakota State University
- South Dakota State University
Community Development deals with challenges faced by communities in the United States and other countries, particularly those in rural areas. Global economic restructuring and the devolution of government services have produced an environment in which Community Developers are called on to think and act in innovative ways.
Community Development is a progressive field, actively promoting positive social, economic, cultural and environmental change. It encourages people to see the “whole picture,” engaging citizens in democratic decision making and action.
Community Development is an inter-institutional distance education program offered through the Web. The student selects a home institution, which grants the degree. After admission at the home institution, the student takes courses from each of the six institutions: Iowa State University, Kansas State University, University of Nebraska, North Dakota State University, and South Dakota State University.
At Iowa State University, Community Development is an optional area of specialization within the Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies degree program that consists of 37 semester credits for completion of the program. A thesis or creative component is required. A computer with minimum specifications, Web access, and an email address are required for completing the program.
Registration
Students choosing to receive their degree from Iowa State University complete all the admissions, registration and fee payment processes through ISU.
Courses
Courses primarily for graduate students, open to qualified undergraduates:
C DEV 502. Community and Natural Resource Management.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Detailed introduction to community resource management. Theoretical frameworks, methodological investigation, applied practices. Enhancement of ability of community development professionals to work with communities to plan, develop and monitor conversation and development of natural resources with multiple functions.
C DEV 503. Community Development I: Principles and Strategies of Community Change.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Analysis of principles and practices of community change and development. Use of case studies to relate community development approaches to conceptual models from diverse disciplines. Exploration of professional practice principles, and student construction of their personal framework for practicing community development.
C DEV 504. Community Analysis: Introduction to Methods.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Introduction to research methods relevant to community development. Formulate and begin a research effort, methods of data collection and how conceptual frameworks are used to develop the questions and analyze data. Emphasis on strategies for reporting findings and applying findings in community action and methods of evaluating the entire research process. Significant attention paid to issues of research ethics and inclusiveness.
C DEV 505. Community Development II: Organizing for Community Change.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Examines role of civil society in community planning efforts. Comparative approach to planning theories and approaches. Focus on change within communities and the roles of government, planners, and citizens in reacting to or shaping change. Dimensions of social capital and the context of change covered.
C DEV 506. Community and Regional Economic Analysis I.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Introduction to concepts of communities and regions, theories of economic growth, drivers of economic growth, the economic base of a community, sources of growth or decline in the community, roles of local government and institutions, and analytical tools. Strategies for local economic development will also be explored.
C DEV 507. Introduction to Native Communities.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
A base knowledge course. For students currently working within, in partnership with, or considering working with Native communities. Basic understanding within the context of community development of the diversity of the tribal structures and cultures and the unique history and jurisdictional considerations of these nations. Working with tribes, Federal and Indian relations, and governance and cultural issues.
C DEV 508. Ecological Economics.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Approaches economy and community by looking at the inherent interdependence, jointness, and potential complimentarity between ecology and economy (utility) of a place.
C DEV 509. Building Native Community and Economic Capacity.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Focus on non-western approaches to helping Native communities build their capacity. Students will learn to take a participatory, culture-centered, and strength-based approach to development.
C DEV 510. Indian Country Agriculture and Natural Resources.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Introduction to the historical and contemporary issues related to natural resource management on Native American lands. Philosophical and economic arguments concerning natural resource conservation, preservation and extraction will be explored.
C DEV 512. Sustainable Communities.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Students will learn the conceptual relationships among Community and Sustainable Development and Sustainable Communities and examine the social, environmental, and economic aspects of sustainable communities. The course includes analysis of public policy impacts on community sustainability, practical actions for enhancing sustainability, and changing power dynamics and reward structures involved in incorporating sustainability into Community Development.
C DEV 513. Economic Development Strategies and Programs.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Course explores theories of local economic development and addresses the development issues faced by communities in the 21st century. Students will understand and apply concepts from economic development planning, economic analysis, business development, human resource development, community-based development, and high-technology development.
C DEV 520. Orientation in Community Development.
(1-0) Cr. 1.
Introduction to the Community Development program. Focus on on-line delivery methods, graduate level research and writing, technology skills.
C DEV 521. Housing and Development.
Cr. 3.
S.
Prereq: None.
Review and evaluation of historical and current housing issues, production, and financial systems, including consideration of racial, ethnic, income, and gender issues as they relate to the role of housing developments and programs in community development.
C DEV 522. Community Leadership and Capacity Building.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Defining leadership and applying it to the workplace. Understanding of potential link between leadership and community capacity. Identifying strategies for leadership development in communities.
C DEV 523. Grantwriting for Community Development Professionals.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Basic Grant Development and Management will introduce students to the grant-getting process and provide an overview of what happens after a project is funded. The following topics will be covered: researching funding sources, generating cutting edge ideas, assessing needs, planning a project, establishing credibility, formulating a sustainable budget, designing an evaluation plan, managing the funded project, and disseminating project results.
C DEV 524. Non-Profit Management in Community Development.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Understanding of how non-profit organizations are run in order that they may participate more fully in community development efforts. Learning skills necessary to assist organizations to manage community development projects and programs, such as, budgeting, planning, personnel, facilities, volunteer management, and fundraising.
C DEV 525. Role of Tribal Colleges in Economic Development.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Focus on role of tribally-chartered colleges and universities in economic development within Native communities. Social capital analytic framework to examine and evaluate tribal college model of economic development.
C DEV 526. Immigration and Community Inclusion.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Mechanisms for community inclusion and exclusion in relation to immigration will be examined. Aspects of ethnicity, religion, occupation and transnationalism are addressed in terms of community mechanism for incorporating immigrants as community assets.
C DEV 527. Public and Non-Profit Budgeting.
Cr. 3.
SS.
Introduction to the fundamental theories and practices of budgeting in the public and non-profit sectors. Topics covered include overview of budgeting and budget reform, taxation, expenditures, budget preparation and adoption, budget implementation, and performance budgeting.
C DEV 528. Evaluation of Organizations and Programs.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: C DEV 504 with grade of C or better
Introduction to the philosophy, techniques, and methodologies of organizational and program evaluation. Overview of program evaluation and theory, techniques to evaluate program processes and performance, evaluation designs, assessing program efficiency, models to diagnose organizations, and methods to assess organizational performance.
C DEV 530. Toward Ethical Engagement.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Understanding what ethics are and identify ethical dimensions of a problem. Ability to employ ethical analysis and engagement strategies in public problem-solving.
C DEV 532. Community and Regional Economic Analysis II.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: C DEV 506
Substantive grounding in the theories and practice of measuring community economic dynamics; build solid foundation skills for applied community economic analysis.
C DEV 542. The Policy and Politics of Coastal Areas.
(Cross-listed with POL S). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Exploration of political implications of coastal policy. Issues include: "Carrying capacity," zoning, regulation of human development activities, tradeoffs between conservation and jobs, the quality of coastal lifestyle, ways in which citizens participate in policy for coastal areas.
C DEV 590. Special Topics in Community Development.
Cr. 1-3.
F.S.SS.
Special topics in Community Development. Independent Study, must get instructor approval.
C DEV 599. Creative Component.
Cr. arr.
Students work with major professor to conduct research and carry out work on their creative component. Instructor permission required.
Courses for graduate students:
C DEV 699. Thesis Research.
Cr. 1-6.
F.S.SS.
Thesis Research.
